Patents by Inventor Robert D. Stevens
Robert D. Stevens has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10966299Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
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Publication number: 20200337132Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, JR.
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Publication number: 20200205260Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load is configured to operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit controls the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit adjusts the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert D. Stevens, JR., Matthew R. Zartman
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Publication number: 20200195460Abstract: An energy control network may include a number of load control devices, such as dimmer switches, multi-button selector switch, occupancy sensors, and remote controllers, among others. These load control devices may be configured for wireless communication. Other wireless devices, such as laptops, tablets, and “smart” cellular phones may be configured to communicate with the load control devices of the energy control network. The load control devices and the other wireless communication devices may also be configured for Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC may be used to provide a load control device with its initial default configuration and/or an application specific configuration. Also, NFC may be used to transfer a configuration from one load control device that may have become faulty, to a replacement load control device. And NFC may be used to provide and trigger commands that may cause a load control load device to operate in a predetermined manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: John C. Browne, JR., Sean Henley, Ratan Dominic Rego, William Bryce Fricke, Robert D. Stevens, JR.
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Patent number: 10652980Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for controlling an intensity of a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. The control is applied through at least an LED drive circuit, a current sense circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to operate in a first state and a second state on a periodic basis, and to control the LED drive circuit in the first and second states during respective time periods based on a load current feedback signal provided by the current sense circuit. The control circuit is configured to generate at least one drive signal for controlling the LED drive circuit and to adjust an operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal or a length of the time periods to adjust an average magnitude of the load current.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
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Patent number: 10609777Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load is configured to operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit controls the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit adjusts the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert D. Stevens, Jr., Matthew R. Zartman
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Publication number: 20200020223Abstract: A remote control device having capacitive touch controls may be configured to enter a sleep state (or mode). For example, the remote control device may be configured to enter the sleep state upon expiration of an interval of time since a most recent button press. The remote control may be configured to awaken from the sleep state when one or more portions of a housing of the remote control are deflected, for example, when a user grasps the remote control to actuate one or more of the capacitive touch controls. For example, the remote control device may include a switch. The switch may include a carbon structure that may be configured to contact an open circuit pad on a circuit board to close the corresponding circuit when the housing is deflected and awaken the remote control device from the sleep state.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Timothy Mann, Matthew Philip McDonald, Lawrence R. Carmen, JR., Robert D. Stevens, JR.
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Patent number: 10516546Abstract: An energy control network may include a number of load control devices, such as dimmer switches, multi-button selector switch, occupancy sensors, and remote controllers, among others. These load control devices may be configured for wireless communication. Other wireless devices, such as laptops, tablets, and “smart” cellular phones may be configured to communicate with the load control devices of the energy control network. The load control devices and the other wireless communication devices may also be configured for Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC may be used to provide a load control device with its initial default configuration and/or an application specific configuration. Also, NFC may be used to transfer a configuration from one load control device that may have become faulty, to a replacement load control device. And NFC may be used to provide and trigger commands that may cause a load control load device to operate in a predetermined manner.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: John C. Browne, Jr., Sean Henley, Ratan Dominic Rego, William Bryce Fricke, Robert D. Stevens
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Publication number: 20190335555Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, JR.
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Publication number: 20190313500Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load may operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit may control the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit may operate in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit may adjust the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert D. Stevens, JR., Matthew R. Zartman
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Patent number: 10424192Abstract: A remote control device having capacitive touch controls may be configured to enter a sleep state (or mode). For example, the remote control device may be configured to enter the sleep state upon expiration of an interval of time since a most recent button press. The remote control may be configured to awaken from the sleep state when one or more portions of a housing of the remote control are deflected, for example, when a user grasps the remote control to actuate one or more of the capacitive touch controls. For example, the remote control device may include a switch. The switch may include a carbon structure that may be configured to contact an open circuit pad on a circuit board to close the corresponding circuit when the housing is deflected and awaken the remote control device from the sleep state.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2016Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Timothy Mann, Matthew Philip McDonald, Lawrence R. Carmen, Jr., Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
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Patent number: 10375781Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load includes controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode includes at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method includes regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
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Patent number: 10356868Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load operates in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit controls the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit adjusts the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert D. Stevens, Jr., Matthew R. Zartman
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Publication number: 20190089551Abstract: An energy control network may include a number of load control devices, such as dimmer switches, multi-button selector switch, occupancy sensors, and remote controllers, among others. These load control devices may be configured for wireless communication. Other wireless devices, such as laptops, tablets, and “smart” cellular phones may be configured to communicate with the load control devices of the energy control network. The load control devices and the other wireless communication devices may also be configured for Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC may be used to provide a load control device with its initial default configuration and/or an application specific configuration. Also, NFC may be used to transfer a configuration from one load control device that may have become faulty, to a replacement load control device. And NFC may be used to provide and trigger commands that may cause a load control load device to operate in a predetermined manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: John C. Browne, Sean Henley, Ratan Dominic Rego, William Bryce Fricke, Robert D. Stevens
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Publication number: 20190075629Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, JR.
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Publication number: 20190008012Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load may operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit may control the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit may operate in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit may adjust the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Stevens, JR., Matthew R. Zartman
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Patent number: 10136484Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
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Patent number: 10135629Abstract: An energy control network may include a number of load control devices, such as dimmer switches, multi-button selector switch, occupancy sensors, and remote controllers, among others. These load control devices may be configured for wireless communication. Other wireless devices, such as laptops, tablets, and “smart” cellular phones may be configured to communicate with the load control devices of the energy control network. The load control devices and the other wireless communication devices may also be configured for Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC may be used to provide a load control device with its initial default configuration and/or an application specific configuration. Also, NFC may be used to transfer a configuration from one load control device that may have become faulty, to a replacement load control device. And NFC may be used to provide and trigger commands that may cause a load control load device to operate in a predetermined manner.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: John C. Browne, Jr., Sean Henley, Ratan Dominic Rego, William Bryce Fricke, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
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Patent number: 10104735Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load may operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit may control the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit may operate in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit may adjust the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Robert D. Stevens, Jr., Matthew R. Zartman
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Publication number: 20180160493Abstract: A lighting control system for controlling a cumulative light emitted by a lighting fixture may comprise a light-emitting diode (LED) driver comprising an output for conducting an output current, and a control module electrically coupled to the output of the LED driver for receiving the output current. The LED driver may regulate the magnitude of the output current towards a target current, and may be characterized by a low-end intensity. The control module may be coupled to a first LED light source of the LED light sources. The control module may receive a command including a requested intensity and control the magnitude of a first LED current through the first LED light source. The control module may control the cumulative light output of the lighting fixture below the low-end intensity of the LED driver by diverting a portion of the output current away from the first LED light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Picard, Johnathan Paul Ross, Robert D. Stevens, JR.